Winning Horse: Witchachar Star (Aus)

6yoG Myboycharlie (Ire) - Witchuponastar (Aus)(Galileo (Ire))

24 starts - 7 wins 1 second 5 thirds $352825

Other Wins

1st Sandown-Hillside Tobin Bro. Celeb. Lives (Bm78) 2400m (2022)

1st Sandown-Hillside Ladbrokes Switch (Bm64) 2400m (2022)

1st Stony Creek Danny O'brien Mp Hcp (58) 2100m (2022)

1st Yarra Valley Bet365 Top Tote Plus Hcp (58)H 1500m (2022)

1st Strathalbyn South Coast Marine (Bm58) 2050m (2021)

1st Strathalbyn Harry Of All Trades Mdn Hcp 1200m (2020)

Other Placings

3rd Caulfield Jack Elliott (Bm78) 2400m (2022)

3rd Yarra Valley V & B Constructions Hcp (58) 1950m (2022)

2nd Gawler Terrace Function Centre (C2) 2100m (2021)

3rd Balaklava Taylors Wines (Bm62) 1600m (2020)

3rd Balaklava Heiniger Hcp (58) 1400m (2020)

3rd Balaklava Bonnie Parker Photography Mdn 1600m (2019)

Race Result:

1st: Witchachar Star (Beau Mertens/Chris Hyland) - $9

2nd: Nerve Not Verve (Regan Bayliss/Michael Moroney) - $3.60
3rd: Constantinople (Linda Meech/Aaron Purcell) - $21

Winning Time: 2:36.39 Last 600m: NA

Margins: 1-¼ Lengths x 6 Lengths

Winning Trainer: Chris Hyland

On the horse’s improvement: “He just kept improving. We aimed very low just to get his confidence up. He’s exceeded our expectations obviously.

“His first win at Sandown he smoked up too early like that too. He was just travelling so much better than everything and then that horse (Nerve Not Verve) came at him in the straight and I was a bit worried but when you watch the replay it’ll show he probably had them covered and I was worried about nothing.”

On having his daughter Leila on track: “I’ve got my daughter here Leila, she’s wagged school again today. She’ll learn more on the track than she’ll learn at school.”

On Beau Mertens: “I’ve just left to Beau every time, I said you just ride him to suit the race and that’s what he’s done. He’s done a fantastic job.

“He’s an underrated rider, we use him a lot down Cranbourne and he’s just a gun. He does what he’s told but most of the time I leave it to him and he gets sorted. We have a bit of luck with Beau.”

Winning Jockey: Beau Mertens

On te horse’s improvement: “It’s crazy isn’t it? It just goes to show how well Chris can get these tried horses going and especially these stayers.

“I had a lot of confidence in him that he’d keep the horse right from Saturday to now and what a terrific job he’s done.”

On the race: “Every time I ride this horse it seems like I nearly go too early on him. He just takes you into the race so good. I knew I had Grandslam covered so I was just being conscious that I didn’t go far too soon but he took me straight into the race.”

On emulating his father Peter, two-time Warrnambool Cup-winning jockey: “He’d be very proud. He actually told a few weeks ago, before he started his winning streak, that he’d be a good Warrnambool Cup horse, which made me inclined to do the 54 (kilos) and come down here.

“He was my only ride, it’s my first Warrnambool Carnival winner so what a thrill.

“I think that will make him proud.”

History of Winners

Date	Horse	TF	Jockey	BP	Trainer	Weight	Margin	SP	SOT
06-May-21	LE DON DE VIE (5G)	115	MARK ZAHRA	11	A & S FREEDMAN	58.5	2.8	$6.5	S(7)
06-May-20	TOO CLOSE THE SUN (4G)	103	DECLAN BATES	9	LINDSEY SMITH	56.0	1	$2.5	S(7)
02-May-19	FURRION (4G)	111	J ALLEN	1	D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG	58.0	0.8	$3.5	S(6)
03-May-18	GALLIC CHIEFTAIN (5H)	111	J ALLEN	10	DARREN WEIR	59.5	nose	$8.5	S(7)
04-May-17	HIGH CHURCH (6G)	111	DAMIAN LANE	10	DARREN WEIR	56.0	6.0	$2.4	H(8)
05-May-16	MASTER OF ARTS (4G)	101	DEAN YENDALL	5	DARREN WEIR	54.0	1.3	$8.0	H(8)
07-May-15	TALL SHIP (4G)	107	BRAD RAWILLER	11	DARREN WEIR	57.0	3.8	$3.3	H(9)
01-May-14	AKZAR (7G)	111	BRAD RAWILLER	16	DARREN WEIR	57.0	6.0	$3.0	H(10)
02-May-13	BANCA MO (5G)	114	B KNOBEL	1	DAVID & SCOTT BRUNTON	58.0	5.0	$3.8	SL(7)
03-May-12	DANCE WITH HER (5M)	106	STEVE ARNOLD	9	DAVID BRIDEOAKE & DAVID FEEK	57.5	1.0	$21.0	H(8)
05-May-11	TINAMOU (6G)	105	PETER MERTENS	1	ROBERT SMERDON	54.0	4	$5.0	S(7)
06-May-10	HISSING SID (5G)	114	BEN MELHAM	3	BILL & SYMON WILDE	58.0	4.5	$4.0	H(8)
07-May-09	HISSING SID (4G)	105	WAYNE HOKAI	5	BILL & SYMON WILDE	57.0	1.5	$2.3	S(7)
01-May-08	VIDEO STAR (5M)	97	SAM HYLAND	4	P F RYAN	53.0	0.8	$8.0	S
03-May-07	SARRERA (6G)	107	MARK ZAHRA	12	MICHAEL MORONEY	58.0	shd	$8.0	H
04-May-06	NEW KID IN TOWN (4G)	94	STEVEN KING	10	LEE FREEDMAN	53.5	lnk	$7.0	S
05-May-05	TRUE COURSER (4G)	94	PETER MERTENS	8	DARREN WEIR	52.0	nose	$11.0	D
06-May-04	MONDE SPECIAL (5M)	95	MICHAEL WALKER	6	MICHAEL ZAMPATTI	52.5	nose	$31.0	D
01-May-03	GUNNAMATTA (5G)	101	NASH RAWILLER	1	TONY NOONAN	58.0	0.8	$9.0	G
02-May-02	MAJESTIC AVENUE (7G)	110	STEVE ARNOLD	3	RUSSELL CAMERON	55.5	2.5	$4.5	G

Current Field - Previous Performances

TAB	Runner	Previous Runs
10	CONSTANTINOPLE	06-May-21 5th/14 - 5.2L,

History Placegetters : Statistics from 2001 to 2021

Date	Horse	Time	Second / Third Placegetters
06-May-21	LE DON DE VIE	2:30.27	2nd-Heart Of Puissance (J Allen 54kg - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace), 3rd-Moonlight Maid (Will Price 54kg - Mitchell Freedman)
06-May-20	TOO CLOSE THE SUN	2:30.12	2nd-Mirimar (Dwayne Dunn 56kg - Michael Moroney), 3rd-Sin To Win (Damien Oliver 56kg - D & B Hayes & T Dabernig)
02-May-19	FURRION	2:30.51	2nd-Sheezdashing (Andrew Mallyon 54kg - Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra), 3rd-Divanation (Luke Currie 54kg - Tony Mcevoy)
03-May-18	GALLIC CHIEFTAIN	2:29.70	2nd-Yogi (Craig Williams 54kg - Darren Weir), 3rd-Romanesque (Dean Yendall 54kg - Jarrod Mclean)
04-May-17	HIGH CHURCH	2:34.46	2nd-Observational (Craig Newitt 60kg - John Sadler), 3rd-Unfurl (Dean Yendall 54kg - Darren Weir)
05-May-16	MASTER OF ARTS	2:32.28	2nd-Catalonia* (Craig Robertson 56kg - Simon Ryan), 3rd-Swacadelic (Mark Zahra 58kg - Aaron Purcell)
07-May-15	TALL SHIP	2:34.84	2nd-Arch Fire (Chris Parnham 54kg - Robert Smerdon), 3rd-Lucciola (Regan Bayliss 54kg - D & C Feek)
01-May-14	AKZAR	2:34.14	2nd-Westsouthwest (Jack Hill 54kg - Robert Smerdon), 3rd-Shoreham (Chris Symons 57kg - Saab Hasan)
02-May-13	BANCA MO	2:29.57	2nd-Muirfield (Michael Walker 54kg - Michael Moroney), 3rd-Shiny Buttons (Dean Yendall 54kg - Darren Weir)
03-May-12	DANCE WITH HER	2:32.61	2nd-Domesky (Brad Rawiller 59kg - Michael Kent), 3rd-Hurdy Gurdy Man (Ben Melham 54kg - Darren Weir)
05-May-11	TINAMOU	2:32.39	2nd-Niwot (Luke Nolen 56kg - Michael & Wayne & John Hawkes), 3rd-Streaky Fella (Dean Yendall 53kg - Darren Weir)
06-May-10	HISSING SID	2:35.30	2nd-Cruyfforme (Ms Nikita Beriman 53kg - Jarrod Mclean), 3rd-Light Vision (Mark Zahra 59kg - Robert Smerdon)
07-May-09	HISSING SID	2:29.13	2nd-Our Smoking Joe (Damien Oliver 58kg - R J Coombes), 3rd-Joontoo Gemini (Dean Holland 53kg - Robbie Laing)
01-May-08	VIDEO STAR	2:31.83	2nd-Sooze (Sebastian Murphy 53kg - Darren Weir), 3rd-Action Plan (Wayne Hokai 53kg - Robbie Laing)
03-May-07	SARRERA	2:35.59	2nd-Douro Valley (Steve Arnold 58kg - Danny O'brien), 3rd-Sentire (William Pike 53kg - Robbie Laing)
04-May-06	NEW KID IN TOWN	2:32.46	2nd-Satinspin (Luke Currie 56kg - Robert Smerdon), 3rd-Forest Knight (Brad Rawiller 56kg - Frances Houlahan)
05-May-05	TRUE COURSER	2:28.16	2nd-Graduated (Stephen Baster 53kg - J W Mason), 3rd-Pretorius (Danny Nikolic 56kg - Brian Mayfield-Smith)
06-May-04	MONDE SPECIAL	2:28.43	2nd-Riley Redwing (Peter Mertens 56kg - Royston Carr), 3rd-Al Zimer (Damien Holland 52kg - Ms S Jaensch)
01-May-03	GUNNAMATTA	2:27.52	2nd-Terminus Prince (Chris Bryant 54kg - Barry Dunn), 3rd-The A Train (Damien Holland 54kg - Cliff Brown)
02-May-02	MAJESTIC AVENUE	2:27.28	2nd-Condies Fair (Wayne Hokai 52kg - Peter Lafferty), 3rd-Touch The Groom (Damien Oliver 56kg - George Hanlon)

Black Type Form: Last 12 months

Date	Horse	Previous 12 month Form
06-May-21	LE DON DE VIE	03-Apr-21 7th-4.5L G3 Easter Cup; 08-Mar-21 5th-3.7L LR C S Hayes Memorial Cup; 07-Nov-20 5th-4.7L G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes; 21-Oct-20 2nd-shd G3 Geelong Cup; 29-Aug-20 1st-1.75L LR August Stakes; 31-Jul-20 3rd-0.95L G3 Glorious Stakes;
06-May-20	TOO CLOSE THE SUN
02-May-19	FURRION	20-Apr-19 2nd-1L G3 Easter Cup; 30-Mar-19 13th-7.3L LR Golden Mile; 02-Mar-19 5th-2.5L G3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap; 31-Oct-18 5th-1.3L G3 Bendigo Cup; 14-Oct-18 3rd-nk LR Cranbourne Cup;
03-May-18	GALLIC CHIEFTAIN	24-Mar-18 4th-8.0L LR Mornington Cup; 24-Feb-18 6th-5.8L LR Mornington Cup Prelude; 18-Nov-17 3rd-1.7L LR Sandown Cup; 11-Nov-17 5th-4.9L G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes; 25-Oct-17 2nd-nose G3 Geelong Cup; 14-Oct-17 3rd-1.4L G2 Herbert Power Stakes; 29-Sep-17 6th-3.3L G3 JRA Cup; 01-Jul-17 1st-0.8L LR Winter Cup;
04-May-17	HIGH CHURCH	15-Apr-17 4th-3.2L G3 Easter Cup; 12-Nov-16 2nd-nk G3 Eclipse Stakes; 21-May-16 7th-10.6L LR Andrew Ramsden Stakes;
05-May-16	MASTER OF ARTS	23-May-15 3rd-1.4L G3 Grand Prix Stakes;
07-May-15	TALL SHIP
01-May-14	AKZAR	19-Apr-14 2nd-0.8L G3 Easter Cup; 02-May-13 13th-18.5L LR Warrnambool Cup;
02-May-13	BANCA MO	27-Feb-13 2nd-1.0L LR George Adams Plate; 10-Feb-13 4th-1.7L LR Tatt's Thomas Lyons Stakes; 23-Jan-13 3rd-1.4L LR Tattsbet.com.au Stakes; 01-Sep-12 12th-5.8L LR Heatherlie Stakes;
03-May-12	DANCE WITH HER	21-Apr-12 13th-8.9L LR Japan Racing Association Plate; 07-Apr-12 6th-4.1L G3 Easter Cup; 17-Mar-12 1st-shd Golden Mile; 05-Nov-11 13th-17.9L G2 Matriarch Stakes;
05-May-11	TINAMOU	27-Feb-11 7th-5.8L LR Kilmore Cup;
06-May-10	HISSING SID	03-Apr-10 3rd-3.8L G3 Easter Cup; 13-Mar-10 4th-1.7L G2 Blamey Stakes; 07-Nov-09 4th-3.4L G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes; 24-Oct-09 10th-4.9L G2 Moonee Valley Cup; 10-Oct-09 3rd-4.6L G2 Herbert Power Stakes; 19-Sep-09 6th-1.9L G3 Naturalism Stakes; 16-May-09 5th-3.2L LR Andrew Ramsden Stakes; 07-May-09 1st-1.5L LR Warrnambool Cup;
07-May-09	HISSING SID
01-May-08	VIDEO STAR	15-Mar-08 1st-nose Roy Higgins Quality;
03-May-07	SARRERA	04-Nov-06 7th-9.2L G3 Hotham Handicap; 14-Oct-06 5th-4L G2 Herbert Power Stakes;
04-May-06	NEW KID IN TOWN
05-May-05	TRUE COURSER
06-May-04	MONDE SPECIAL	20-Mar-04 15th-7.4L G2 Sunline Stakes; 13-Sep-03 3rd-2L G3 Stocks Stakes;
01-May-03	GUNNAMATTA	19-Apr-03 2nd-2.3L G3 Easter Cup; 01-Mar-03 3rd-3.8L LR Mornington Cup Prelude; 19-Feb-03 1st-nk LR Mornington Cup; 23-Nov-02 7th-5.4L G3 Eclipse Stakes; 05-Nov-02 7th-2.3L LR Hong Kong Jockey Club Plate (Melbourne Cup Day Plate); 20-Oct-02 3rd-3L LR Seymour Cup;
02-May-02	MAJESTIC AVENUE	24-Mar-02 9th-5.1L Anniversary Vase; 09-Mar-02 15th-7.8L LR VRC March Stakes; 02-Jun-01 11th-18L G2 The Q22;

Winning Trainers : Statistics from 2001 to 2021

Trainer	won	w%	2nd	3rd	Sts	Winners
DARREN WEIR	6	25.0%	2	4	24	2018 - GALLIC CHIEFTAIN; 2017 - HIGH CHURCH; 2016 - MASTER OF ARTS; 2015 - TALL SHIP; 2014 - AKZAR; 2005 - TRUE COURSER;
BILL & SYMON WILDE	2	50.0%	0	0	4	2010 - HISSING SID; 2009 - HISSING SID;
ROBERT SMERDON	1	10.0%	3	1	10	2011 - TINAMOU;
MICHAEL MORONEY	1	8.3%	2	0	12	2007 - SARRERA;
D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG	1	20.0%	0	1	5	2019 - FURRION;
TONY NOONAN	1	20.0%	0	0	5	2003 - GUNNAMATTA;
RUSSELL CAMERON	1	33.3%	0	0	3	2002 - MAJESTIC AVENUE;
MICHAEL ZAMPATTI	1	33.3%	0	0	3	2004 - MONDE SPECIAL;
P F RYAN	1	33.3%	0	0	3	2008 - VIDEO STAR;
DAVID & SCOTT BRUNTON	1	50.0%	0	0	2	2013 - BANCA MO;
LINDSEY SMITH	1	50.0%	0	0	2	2020 - TOO CLOSE THE SUN;
DAVID BRIDEOAKE & DAVID FEEK	1	100.0%	0	0	1	2012 - DANCE WITH HER;
A & S FREEDMAN	1	100.0%	0	0	1	2021 - LE DON DE VIE;
LEE FREEDMAN	1	100.0%	0	0	1	2006 - NEW KID IN TOWN;
CIARON MAHER & DAVID EUSTACE	0	0.0%	1	0	5
AARON PURCELL	0	0.0%	0	1	10
MATT CUMANI	0	0.0%	0	0	3

Winning Jockeys : Statistics from 2001 to 2021

Jockey	won	w%	2nd	3rd	Sts	Winners
BRAD RAWILLER	2	22.2%	1	1	9	2015 - TALL SHIP; 2014 - AKZAR;
PETER MERTENS	2	22.2%	1	0	9	2011 - TINAMOU; 2005 - TRUE COURSER;
STEVE ARNOLD	2	25.0%	1	0	8	2012 - DANCE WITH HER; 2002 - MAJESTIC AVENUE;
J ALLEN	2	66.7%	1	0	3	2019 - FURRION; 2018 - GALLIC CHIEFTAIN;
MARK ZAHRA	2	33.3%	0	2	6	2021 - LE DON DE VIE; 2007 - SARRERA;
WAYNE HOKAI	1	20.0%	1	1	5	2009 - HISSING SID;
MICHAEL WALKER	1	20.0%	1	0	5	2004 - MONDE SPECIAL;
DEAN YENDALL	1	6.3%	0	4	16	2016 - MASTER OF ARTS;
BEN MELHAM	1	33.3%	0	1	3	2010 - HISSING SID;
DECLAN BATES	1	20.0%	0	0	5	2020 - TOO CLOSE THE SUN;
DAMIAN LANE	1	20.0%	0	0	5	2017 - HIGH CHURCH;
NASH RAWILLER	1	25.0%	0	0	4	2003 - GUNNAMATTA;
STEVEN KING	1	33.3%	0	0	3	2006 - NEW KID IN TOWN;
B KNOBEL	1	50.0%	0	0	2	2013 - BANCA MO;
SAM HYLAND	1	100.0%	0	0	1	2008 - VIDEO STAR;
REGAN BAYLISS	0	0.0%	0	1	2
H COFFEY	0	0.0%	0	0	3
PATRICK MOLONEY	0	0.0%	0	0	2
JAMIE KAH	0	0.0%	0	0	2
LINDA MEECH	0	0.0%	0	0	1
BEAU MERTENS	0	0.0%	0	0	1
Fred W Kersley	0	0.0%	0	0	1

Barrier Statistics : Statistics from 2001 to 2021

BP	won	w%	2nd	3rd	Sts	Winners
1	4	20.0%	2	1	20	2019 - FURRION; 2013 - BANCA MO; 2011 - TINAMOU; 2003 - GUNNAMATTA;
2	0	0.0%	2	2	20
3	2	10.0%	2	3	20	2010 - HISSING SID; 2002 - MAJESTIC AVENUE;
4	1	5.0%	0	2	20	2008 - VIDEO STAR;
5	2	10.0%	1	0	20	2016 - MASTER OF ARTS; 2009 - HISSING SID;
6	1	5.0%	2	2	20	2004 - MONDE SPECIAL;
7	0	0.0%	0	5	20
8	1	5.0%	2	0	20	2005 - TRUE COURSER;
9	2	10.0%	1	1	20	2020 - TOO CLOSE THE SUN; 2012 - DANCE WITH HER;
10	3	15.0%	0	0	20	2018 - GALLIC CHIEFTAIN; 2017 - HIGH CHURCH; 2006 - NEW KID IN TOWN;
11	2	10.0%	2	0	20	2021 - LE DON DE VIE; 2015 - TALL SHIP;
12	1	5.6%	1	2	18	2007 - SARRERA;
13	0	0.0%	1	2	16
14	0	0.0%	0	0	13
15	0	0.0%	2	0	11
16	1	12.5%	2	0	8	2014 - AKZAR;

Winners by Weight : Statistics from 2001 to 2021

Weight	Num	Winners
52.0	1	2005 - TRUE COURSER;
52.5	1	2004 - MONDE SPECIAL;
53.0	1	2008 - VIDEO STAR;
53.5	1	2006 - NEW KID IN TOWN;
54.0	2	2016 - MASTER OF ARTS; 2011 - TINAMOU;
55.5	1	2002 - MAJESTIC AVENUE;
56.0	2	2020 - TOO CLOSE THE SUN; 2017 - HIGH CHURCH;
57.0	3	2015 - TALL SHIP; 2014 - AKZAR; 2009 - HISSING SID;
57.5	1	2012 - DANCE WITH HER;
58.0	5	2019 - FURRION; 2013 - BANCA MO; 2010 - HISSING SID; 2007 - SARRERA; 2003 - GUNNAMATTA;
58.5	1	2021 - LE DON DE VIE;
59.5	1	2018 - GALLIC CHIEFTAIN;

Favourites : Statistics from 2001 to 2021

Fav	won	w%	2nd	3rd	Sts	Winners
1	9	40.9%	1	1	22	2020/6-4-TOO CLOSE THE SUN; 2019/5-2-FURRION; 2017/11-8-HIGH CHURCH; 2015/9-4-TALL SHIP; 2014/2-1-AKZAR; 2013/11-4-BANCA MO; 2010/3-1E-HISSING SID; 2009/5-4-HISSING SID; 2002/7-2F-MAJESTIC AVENUE;
2	0	0.0%	5	4	21
3	5	25.0%	2	3	20	2021/11-2-LE DON DE VIE; 2011/4-1-TINAMOU; 2008/7-1-VIDEO STAR; 2006/6-NEW KID IN TOWN; 2005/10-TRUE COURSER;
4	4	19.0%	0	2	21	2018/15-2-GALLIC CHIEFTAIN; 2016/7-1-MASTER OF ARTS; 2007/7-1-SARRERA; 2003/8-GUNNAMATTA;
5	0	0.0%	3	3	24
6	0	0.0%	3	2	23
7	1	5.6%	1	0	18	2012/20-1-DANCE WITH HER;
8	0	0.0%	0	2	20
9	0	0.0%	2	0	21
10	0	0.0%	2	1	16
11	0	0.0%	1	0	22
12	0	0.0%	0	0	15
13	1	6.7%	0	1	15	2004/30-MONDE SPECIAL;
14	0	0.0%	0	0	11
15	0	0.0%	0	0	11
16	0	0.0%	0	1	6

Runner Ages : Statistics from 2001 to 2021

Age	won	2nd	3rd	Sts	Winners
3	0	0	0	1
4	7	7	4	57	2020 - TOO CLOSE THE SUN; 2019 - FURRION; 2016 - MASTER OF ARTS; 2015 - TALL SHIP; 2009 - HISSING SID; 2006 - NEW KID IN TOWN; 2005 - TRUE COURSER;
5	8	6	7	87	2021 - LE DON DE VIE; 2018 - GALLIC CHIEFTAIN; 2013 - BANCA MO; 2012 - DANCE WITH HER; 2010 - HISSING SID; 2008 - VIDEO STAR; 2004 - MONDE SPECIAL; 2003 - GUNNAMATTA;
6	3	5	7	75	2017 - HIGH CHURCH; 2011 - TINAMOU; 2007 - SARRERA;
7	2	1	2	40	2014 - AKZAR; 2002 - MAJESTIC AVENUE;
8	0	1	0	21
9	0	0	0	5